Material handling apparatus



April 28, 1953 A. NEUHART MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 51, 1950 barf 6A INVENTOR AnarggA/eu Mi NW mm NmN hm April 28, 1953 A. NEUHART MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS 7 sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 31, 1950 MNN INVENTOR Andrew Neu/ia/"f April 28, 1953 A. NEUHART MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 31, 1950 [NVENTOR Andrew A eu/rarf April 28, 19.53 A. NEUHART 2,636,735

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Andrew Neuhanf 9. w 7

April 28, 1953 A. NEUHART 2,636,735

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 51, 1950 7 sheets -Sheet 7 Fig.9.

INVENTOR Andrew A/eu/iarf 9 a wwzm Patented Apr. 28, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to material handling apparatus. It has to do with certain structural features of material handling apparatus having advantages in utility, economy and simplicity of operation.

In its broader aspects my invention is applicable to material handling apparatus generally. I have utilized the invention in the feeding of sheets to presses and in certain of its narrower aspects the invention has especial utility in presses and feeders therefor.

For purposes of explanation and illustration I shall describe the invention in relation to its embodiment in a feeder for presses.

The particular feeder in which the invention is disclosed as being embodied is a sheet feeder for delivering sheets sequentially to a cylinder, as to the impression cylinder of a fiat bed and cylinder type printing or cutting and creasing press. In such a press sheets are delivered along a feed board to the cylinder where they are taken by grippers on the cylinder, each sheet in turn being carried by the cylinder through one revolution thereof during which it is pressed against the form on the bed. The sheet is then removed from the cylinder and delivered to a pile.

The sheets being fed are supplied in a pile in the feeder. Sheets are taken one by one from the top of the pile and delivered along the feed board to the cylinder as above described. The feeder herein disclosed is of the type in which the sheets are taken one by one from the top of the pile by suction fingers. Those suction fingers deliver each sheet to a second set of suction fingers which moves the sheet forward along the feed board to a position intermediate the ends of the feed board. When the sheet reaches the intermediate position it is released by the second set of suction fingers and held temporarily on the feed board by suction. The second set of suction fingers is then retracted to pick up the succeeding sh et and a third set of suction fingers. takes the sheet from its intermediate position on the feed board and delivers it into registry with the cylinder whence it is taken by the cylinder grippers. The two sets of suction fingers operating on the feed board (i. e., the second and third sets above referred to) may be mounted on a common carriage oscillatable along the feed board so that they automatically operate in synchronism; when one of those set of suction fingers is feeding a sheet from the suction fingers which remove it from the top of th pile to the intermediate position on'the feed board. the other thereof is feeding the preceding sheet along the feed board from the intermediate position to the position of registry with the cylinder. Side registering means are provided for insuring proper side registry of the sheets.

As sheets are taken from the top of the pile in the feeder that pile becomes shorter and to compensate for the gradual reduction in the height of the pile the pile is moved upwardly step by step. The upward movement of the pile must be properly regulated to insure that the top of the pile is always at the proper height. This is done by what is known in the art as a pile governor.

It is difficult or impossible to work on the form or the cylinder or, indeed, any of the mechanism located generally beneath the feed board when the latter is in operative position. Hence it is known in the art to move the feed board to inoperative or relatively out of the way position when such work is to be done. Feed board used in feeders of the type above referred to have generally been pivoted at the end thereof remote from the cylinder. Because feed boards have been so pivoted it has generally been necessary, due to the mass of the feed board and the mechanism carried thereby and the power required to move the feed board between operative and inoperative positions, to employ mechanism providing great mechanical advantage for effecting the movement. The mechanism heretofore generally employed has included a manually operable crank turning a worm meshing with a worm wheel connected with the feed board so that when the crank is turned the feed board is swung up or down very slowly. Valuable time is wasted and unnecessary energy is expended. It may be necessary to move the feed board between operative and inoperative positions a considerable number of times in making ready a form for printing or cutt ng and creasing and if the feed board has to be laboriously cranked back and forth each time the working efficiency of the apparatus is greatly reduced.

Sometimes when particular work is to be done inside the press it is not srfficient to simply move the feed board to inoperative position; it may be desired to move the entire feeder to out of the way position. It has heretofore been customary to connect the feeder to the press frame by a vertical pivot so that the entire feeder can be swung horizontally between operative position in relation to the press and inoperative positlon when the press and the inside of the feeder are laid wide open for access. Such mounting 'of the feeder has posed problems in driving the feeder carriage and the pile governor. Driving mechanism has heretofore been employed which either has been subject to disconnection when the feeder is swung out to inoperative position or has been unduly complex and expensive or both. Generally the driving mechanism for the feeder carriage and the pile governor has included separable connections from the press drive which are disconnected each time the feeder is swung out to inoperative position and reconnected each time the feeder is swung back to the pile governor.

operative position with consequent wear on the parts due to friction and impact.

The mechanism heretofore employed for operating the pile governor has been unduly com-- plex and expensive. It has included, in addition to an individual separable driving connection from the press drive, separate means for operating the feeler engaging the to of the pile of sheets in the feeder and for operating the pile elevator with control means interposed between such se arate means activating the pile elevator when the fee er descends a predetermined distance. This has entailed du lication of parts. The pile elevator drive has included a ratchet and a pawl cooperating with the ratchet, the pawl being stationary except when it is activated by the feeler, Provision for activating the pawl under such circumstances has necessitated the employment of unduly com licated mechanism includin an undue number of parts. Moreover, the feeler o erating mechanism has been undesirably complex and has involved the continual oscillation of parts of considerable mass.

I have devised material handling apparatus which may be embodied in a feeder of the eneral type above referred to but which is largely new in construction and which solves certain of the above mentioned problems. Other of the abo e mentio ed problems have been solved by August A. Saul whose application Serial No. 165,297 was filed May 31, 1950. The Saul a plication and this ap lication disclose the same feeder because the improvements which Ihave made and those which Mr. Saul has made mutually coo erate with each other, but my improvements are claimed in this application while those made by Mr. Saul are claimed in his application.

I provide improved, simplified, and relatively rugged and foolproof mechanism for operating My mechanism is of such re ative simplicity and effectiveness as compared with pile governor operating mechanism heretofore employed that I can manufacture at greatly reduced cost a feeder including pile governor operating mechanism accomplishing all the functions of prior mechanisms of the type in question and, indeed, accomplishing some of those functions in superior manner.

My pile governor operating mechanism is preferably such that it may remain connected with the press drive at all times, even when the feeder is swung out to inoperative position, eliminating entirely the provision of a separable connection and also obviating wear on the parts of such a connection due to friction and impact upon movement of the feeder into and out of operative position. I preferably mount upon the vertical pivot which pivotally connects the feeder to the press frame an operating device which is adapted to oscillate vertically along that pivot. Oscillation is effected by a crank device operated from the main press drive. There may be employed a sleeve disposed about the vertical pivot, which sleeve may be utilized in driving the feeder carriage as claimed in the Saul application. If such a sleeve is utilized it desirably maintains fixed orientation relatively to the press during swinging of the feeder about the vertical pivot into and out of operative relationship with respect to the press. I preferably mount the device for operating the pile governor upon the above mentioned sleeve or at least provide for guiding it in oscil-- .latory up and down movement with the sleeve along the vertical pivot which connects the feeder to the press. However, the operating device turns,

about the pivot with the feeder when the feeder is swung between operative and inoperative positions. Preferably a connecting member such as a rod extends from the operating device to the pile governor, and such connecting member is guided in the feeder frame so that when the feeder is swung about the axis of the vertical pivot the connecting member causes turning of the operating device about the axis of the pivot.

I employ but a single connecting member from the operating device to the pile governor, the pile governor mechanism being greatly simplified and at the same time rendered more efiicient than prior pile governor mechanisms. The single connecting member oscillates the feeler which engages the top of the pile and also oscillates the pawl for operating the pile elevator. The pawl oscillates continuously during operation of the feeder. It is normally held out of engagement with the ratchet by a detent which in turn is' rendered inoperative by means connected with the feeler when the feeler descends to a predetermined level. Such mechanism preferably includes a cam which turns the detent out of the path of a portion of the pawl permitting the pawl to move into engagement with the ratchet to bring about elevation of the pile. When the top of the pile has been elevated to the proper extent the detent again becomes operative for bolding the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet and the pawl continues to oscillate in inoperative position until the feeler again causes the cam to move the detent out of the position in which it maintains the pawl inoperative.

The feeler is preferably spring operated in both directions. Desirably it is carried by a bell crank lever to which a tension coil spring is connected tending always to raise the feeler upwardly out of contact with the top of the pile. A compression coil spring tends to move the feeler downwardly into engagement With the top of the pile. The operating mechanism includes means pressing against the compression coil spring until the tension coil spring is overcome whereupon the feeler moves downwardly into contact with the top of the pile. Any overtravel of the means engaging the compression coil spring is taken up by that spring after the feeler has engaged the top of the pile so there is no possibility of binding of parts.

While I have referred to a feeler in the singular it is to be understood that the feeler may be multiplied if desired so that a gang of synchronously operable feelers may be employed to engage the top of the pile at different points. However, ordinarily one feeler is sufficient for accomplishment of the purpose.

Preferably the connecting member extending from the operating device is connected to an angularly oscillatable member which operates all the parts of the pile governor operating mechanism. The pawl is preferably pivoted to the angularly oscillatable member and that member preferably has a projection adapted to engage the above mentioned compression coil spring to move the feeler downwardly into engagement with the top of the pile. Desirably the compression coil spring is disposed about a rod which extends through a slotted radial projection on the angularly oscillatable member, such projection bearing against the compression coil spring, The rod preferably carries the cam for operating the above mentioned detent. Desirably the pawl has a laterally projecting portion cooperable with the detent as above explained.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which Figure 1 is an elevational view from the operators side of a sheet feeder applied to a printing press, portions of the feeder and press not forming part of the invention claimed being cut away;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 1 but viewed from the gear side of the press;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 2, the feed board being shown in operative position;

Figure 3a is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the feed board in inoperative position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vfragmentary detail vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1 and taken on the line IV--IV of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion or" the structure;

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line VI-VI of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a more or less diagrammatic fragmentary elevational view showing the feed board in operative and inoperative positions;

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on the line VIIIVIII of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of a portion of the structure;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical transverse cross-sectional View taken on the line XI--X[ of Figure 10.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown apparatus comprising a printing press designated generally by reference numeral 2 and a sheet feeder for feeding sheets one by one to the printing press, the feeder being designated generally by reference numeral 3. The press as shown is of the horizontal flat bed and cylinder type; the press itself may be conventional. The press frame is designated by reference numeral 61 and is mounted in stationary position. The impression cylinder is shown diagrammatically at 5. The impression cylinder turns in the counterclockwise direction viewing Figure 1 and is provided with cylinder grippers for taking one by one the sheets fed thereto by the feeder, each sheet being carried by the impression cylinder for one revolution during which it is pressed against the printing form on the oscillating bed as well known to those skilled in the art. The printed sheet is delivered from the cylinder toward the left viewing Figure l in well known manner. Since the present invention is concerned with material handling apparatus illustrated therein as being embodied in a sheet feeder there is no need of showing details of the press and delivery structures and such details have been omitted.

The feeder 3 comprises a frame 6 which carries all the parts of the feeder proper. The feeder frame 6 is pivoted to the press frame 4 by a vertical pivot i, such pivoting of a feeder frame to a press frame being well known to those skilled in the art. The pivot 1 in the present case preferably comprises a cylindrical shaft disposed in vertical position and carried by the press frame, the feeder frame having trunnions 8 through which the shaft 7 passes so that the feeder frame may pivot about the shaft 1 by turning of the trunnions 8 on the shaft. The drawings show only the upper portion of the feeder and hence show only the upper trunnion 8. There is also a cooperating lower trunnion carried by the feeder frame 6 through which the shaft 1 passes near the bottom of the feeder.

The shaft 1 is disposed at one side of the press frame, the side at which it is disposed being known to those skilled in the art as the gear side. The opposite side is known as the operators side. By reason of the pivotal mounting of the feeder upon the press the feeder can be swung laterally to inoperative position about the pivot 1 so as to provide access to the form on the press bed and to the internal portions of the press and feeder. As above indicated, the general type of mounting of the feeder on the press is well known to those skilled in the art. The feeder is maintained in proper elevation relatively to the press by reason of the fact that each of the feeder trunnions 8 bears upon a stationary portion 9 of the press frame. Thus the entire feeder may move as a unit about the axis of the pivot 1 and while so moving remains in fixed vertical position.

The feeder frame 6 has opposed projecting portions it in each of which is disposed a flanged bushing Illa fastened to the portions [0 by screws itb passing through the bushing flanges. A cross shaft H is .iournaled in the bushings 10a. The cross shaft ll performs an important part in the functioning of the feeder, serving together with the bushings Illa as the horizontal pivot for the feed board and also serving to drive the oscillating carriage along the feed board as will presently be described. The feed board is designated generally by reference numeral l2 and has bearing portions or hubs 12a somewhat offset downwardly, viewing Figures 1 and 6, from the general plane of the feed board through which the bushings 10a and the cross shaft I! pass whereby the feed board is pivoted to the feeder frame 6 at the portions Ill thereof for turning movement about the axis of the horizontal cross shaft II. The feed board 12 is pivoted to the cross shaft [I at its mid-portion, i. e., at the portion. of the feed board removed from both ends. The feed board is pivoted to the cross shaft near enough to the longitudinal center of the feed board so that, while it will not ordinarily be exactly balanced about the axis of the shaft I I, it may without great physical effort be turned about the axis of the shaft by the operator or pressman. This may be done manually by taking hold of the feed board and turning it about the axis of the cross shaft. The turning is a virtually instantaneous movement whose accomplishment does not require cranking or operation of any other mechanism. In Figure '7 the feed board is shown in operative position in solid lines and in inoperative position in chain lines. In the other figures except Figure 3a it is shown in operative position; in Figure 3a it is shown in inoperative position. There are two reasons for turning the feed board to the inoperative or chain line position shown in Figure '1. One reason is to permit limited access to the form on the press bed and to the inside of the press. The other reason is to permit disengagement of the feed board from the press when it is desired to swing the feeder as a whole about the vertical pivot I to inoperative out of the way position to permit full access to the form on the press bed and to the interior of the press and feeder. When the feed board I2 is in operative position its left-hand end viewing Figure l engages the press as Will presently appear, so the feed board should be moved to the more nearly vertical inoperative position shown in chain lines in Figure 7 when the feeder is to be swung about the vertical pivot I to inoperative position.

The feed board when in its generally horizontal operative position has somewhat more of its mass disposed to the left of the axis of the shaft 1 viewing Figure 1 than to the right of such axis; hence the feed board is somewhat overbalanced so that its normal tendency is to turn in the counterclockwise direction about the axis of the shaft II viewing Figure l. The amount by which it is out of balance is not great enough to impose great dilficulty in manual turning of the feed board between operative and inoperative positions. Nevertheless it is desirable to employ means acting on the feed board assisting in raising the heavier end thereof when the feed board is turned from operative to inoperative position and cushioning the return of the feed board from inoperative to operative position. Pivoted to each of the opposed downwardy projecting portions of the feed board at izb is a rod I20 which passes through a guiding bore 52d in a stud I2e pivoted to the inside of the corresponding feeder frame portion Ill as shown in Figure l. disposed between the connection of each rod IZc to the feed board and the stud I2e. When the feed board is in operative position the springs I2f are compressed. When the feed board is turned about the axis of the shaft I I to inoperative position the springs I2f conteract to a desired extent the overbalance of the feedboard and facilitate the turning. As the feed board approaches vertical position the overbalance diminishes as does also the effect of the springs I21 since by reason 7 of the fact that the pivots I22) are moving generally toward the left viewing Figure 1 away from the studs I 26 the spring I 2 are allowed to expand. When the feed board is turned back from inoperative to operative position the springs I21 cushion its movement, becoming progressively more and more effective as the feed board nears operative position until they attain their maximum effectiveness when operative position is reached.

The feed board has near its end which cooperates with the impression cylinder lugs I2g threadedly receiving screws I 2h, each of which is maintained in desired'adjusted position by a nut I21. The screws I2h project from the bottoms of the lugs IZg and when the feed board settles into operativeposition enter sockets I2:i formed to receive them in the press frame. The screws I2h' thus accurately position the feed board relatively to the press frame and hence relatively to the impression cylinder and cooperate with the locking means presently to be described to maintain the feed board accurately positioned. By reason of their entry into the sockets I 2d the screws prevent undesired lateral movement or skewing of the feed board.

A carriage is carried by and oscillates along the feed board'to effect the feeding of sheets one by one to the impression cylinder 5. The carriage itself may be conventional. It is shown A compression coil spring Iff is manually pulled out by the operator.

in the drawings at I3 but is not illustrated in detail because the specific mechanism of the carriage does not constitute the present invention. The carriage is mounted in guides on the feed board to oscillate back and forth along the feed board generally in the plane of the feed board as known to those skilled in the art. The carriage has on its bottom two downwardly facing racks I4 each meshing with a pinion I5 fastened to the shaft II. The racks I4 are positioned at opposite sides of and preferably substantially equidistant from the center line of the carriage. Means presently to be described are provided for oscillating the shaft I I and since each pinion I5 is fixed to the shaft II and must turn therewith and is at all times in mesh with the corresponding rack I4 oscillation of the shaft II causes oscillatory movement of the carriage I3 along the feed board.

The carriage I3 is equipped with means well known to those skilled in the art for advancing sheets one by one along the feed board from the top of the pile of sheets in the feeder to the impression cylinder Where each sheet is side and front registered to the impression cylinder and taken from registry by the cylinder grippers. All this is standard feeder structure and hence is not shown in detail. An effort has been made to eliminate from the drawings as many parts as possible which do not constitute the invention herein claimed. The means on the carriage for advancing the sheets one by one along the feed board may be pneumatic means. For example, there may be two sets of suckers on the carriage, one at each end of the carriage. The set of suckers at the feeder end of the carriage may take a sheet from other suckers which lift it from the top of the pile and upon movement of the carriage toward the impression cylinder feed that sheet to a position about half way along the feed board where the sheet may be released by the suckers on the carriage and retained by stationary suckers in the feed table I270 which is the sheet supporting portion of the feed board. The

carriage may then move back toward the feeder end of the feed board and upon the succeeding motion toward the impression cylinder the suckers on the end of the carriage nearer the impression cylinder may take the sheet from its intermediate position on the feed table and deliver it toa point of registry at the front or cylinder end of the feed board; after the sheet is front and side registered the sheet is taken from the feed board by the cylinder grippers. This :type of sheet handling in a sheet feeder is known to those skilled in the art.

A manually operated latch pin I6 is provided in the feeder frame 6 at the operators side to hold the feed board in uptilted or inoperative position as shown in chain lines in Figure 7. The latch pin may be spring pressed inwardly so that when the feed board moves to inoperative position a cam on the feed board may depress the pin outwardly until a portion of the feed board has passed the pin whereupon the pin may be released to be projected inwardly by its spring to positively hold the feed board against turning back to operative position until the latch pin is Thus at the will of the operator the feed board can be latched in inoperative position but by a simple manual operation of pulling out the latch pin the feed board can be released for turning movement back to operative position, which turning movement, as above indicated, can be effected in a virtually instantaneous manual operation due to the fact that the feed board is mounted to turn about the axis of the shaft II at its mid-portion.

The press frame 4 has a portion 11 projecting toward the feeder, such portion having an underface IS with which the upper end of an adjustable screw I9 is adapted to engage, the screw it being maintained by a nut '20 in adjusted positlon in the end of a hook-shaped arm 21 fixed to a cross shaft 22 journaled in the feed board 12. The shaft 22 extends across the feed board from side to side of the feeder and at the operators side has fixed to it a handle 23 whereby the operator may turn the shaft :22 between a position in which the feed board is looked to the press as shown in solid lines in Figures 1-4 and 7 and a position in which the arm 2| is turned in the counterclockwise direction from the position in which it is shown in Figure :4 so as to be out of; contact with the portion ll! of the press frame; such position of thevarm 2| is shown in chain lines in Figure 7 and in solid lines Figure 3a. Movement of the arm 21 to theinoperative or chain line position 'of Figure '7 and solid line vpositionof Figure 3a unlocks the feed board from the press so that the feed board may be swung up to inoperative position.

Fixed to the shaft 22 is an arm Z'il to the outer end of which is pivoted at'25 a rod t'textending toward the feeder end of the apparatus and having a hook-shaped end 21. The rod 25 passes through an opening provided therefor in a'guide member 28 pivoted in the side of the feed board. When the feed board is locked to the press as shown in Figure 4 the arm 24 holds the hook 2'! in a position relatively close to the feeder end of the apparatus in which the 'hook 2 is inoperative. While the :hook is :disposed in the plane of the path of the carriage along the-feed board it is positioned :beyond the end of the path of the carriageinits movement toward the feeder end of the apparatus and hence can have no function. When, however, the-shaft'ZZ is turned through approximately half a revolution from the position in which the feed board is locked to the press to the position indicated in :chain lines in Figure '7 and :in solid "lines in Figure 3a in which the feed board is unlocked the arm 2'4 causes movement of thelhook 2 1 toxthe left viewing Figure 4 so that it intercepts thecarriage if the carriage moves toward the feeder end of the apparatus, When .in that .position the hook 2.1 positively prevents the carriage, when the feed board is .turned aupzto the zchain'ilinesposition of Figure 7 and theqsolid line position of Figure 3a, from striking the pile of .asheets min the feeder; in other words, the hookilimitsthe extentmo :which the carriage can move when the feed :board is turned so that gravityi-tends i170 movezthe carriage toward the feeder end :oftheapparatus. Were it not for the hook I21the-carriage wouldsstrike the pile of sheets :in the feeder when moving -the feed board to uptil-ted positi'on. The;hook:21:is resilient and whenthecarriagemovesftowardlthe feeder end of the apparatus'aitransverse member on the carriage "pressed into ithe shook, :which yields slightly to permit the .stud rto enter it. Thereafter the hook not :only positively prevents the carriage from; moving :toward :the "feeder end of the apparatus :far ::eno.u-gh ito strike "the 1 pile of sheets in the feeder but aalsoibyzits resilient action holds the carriage :againstrmovement toward thepress. iI'hllszthmhGUkiZTawhichiis automatically. moved to -roperative iposition when lthe feed board is unlocked from the press serves to hold the carriage against undesired movement due to gravity in either direction along the feed board. Nevertheless the carriage can be disengaged from the hook by the operator by simply moving the carriage toward the end of the feed board nearer the impression cylinder whereby to release the member 27a from the resilient grip of the hook thereon. When the feed board is again locked to the press the hook 21 is moved out to its inoperative position as shown in Figure 4 where it is disposed beyond the end of the :path of the portion of the carriage which is adapted to engage with the hook when the latter is in its operative position.

'Fastened to the extremity of the shaft 22! which is disposed at the "gear side of the feeder is a sleeve!!! from which projects an :arm generally parallel to the. axis .of .theshaft22, the outer extremity of the arm '30 being :turned inwardly at right angles to and intersecting the axi of the shaft .22 as shown at .3l. The portion 3| has itherein aslct 32 which is elongated transversely of sand intersects the axis of the shaft 22. A pin the from of a bolt .33 is disposed in the slot .32 and is adapted for movement along the slot as will presently loo-described. The bolt 33 also passes through a circular bore 35 in the longer arm of an .L-shaped member 35 whoseshorter :armxis fastened at 3,6 qtoa rod 3.? pivoted at 1.38 to :an arm 739 of a .bell crank ilever llll pivoted at M to a bracket ,42 forming part of the :feed board. The other arm .43 .of the Joell crank lever carries atitsrextremitya hub 44 within which is disposed a pin 45 which rides in :a peripheral groove .46 :formedin a pinion 42! mounted on the shaft H for :both free -.turning movement and sliding movement along-,theshaft. Keyedto the shaft H at A8 and also held against movement axially of the shaft is an inside gear .49 with which the pinion 41 is adapted to mesh whenmoved toward the right to the position shown in Figured. The pinion ha a'bore '59 parallel to its axis but disposed vat one side thereof into which a p l 5| is driven .and the .inside gear 49 has a bore 52 which guidingly receives the pin -5l when the pinion 4] is moved toward the inside gear 49. The pin 15.! rides around the surface 53 of the inside gear 49, whichrsurfaoe is intersected by the bore 52,;unti1zthe pin 5l enters the boretZ whereupon the pinion "41 is permitted to move into mesh with the inside gear 4-9. The function of the pin .5] is to insure that when the pinion 41 moves into mesh with the inside gear can willdo so in propertimed relationship so that the carriage will vbe operated in proper. cooperative relationship with other elements of. the apparatus. The outer end of theshaft Il-is journaledin'abearing-tt-disposed within ahub 55 forming a portion of the feeder. frame ,6, another portion. of which is shaped as: a hood ,56 covering the pinion Aland the inside gear 49.

,Prqjecting from ,rtheifeed board .[2 at thelgear side of the apparatusis a pin 5'! to which is fastened one. end ,of a ,tension coil spring. iii, the other end of which is. connected with the bottom of the, pivot pins-i3. The, spring {is .tends at a ll times to .turn the .bell crank lever All in the counterclockwise direction viewing Figure .5 about the .aXis of. the pivot A 1..

When the shaft 22 is in the position whichit OCCHPiBS-ilhfill the feed board :12 is lock dto ;,the p ess the member ;Z9- ;tii-. 3 is in the positi n shown in Figure-'5 and the .spring. :58. maintains the bell; crank: lever: 4-0- in: the 1 position :iShOWlli in asse t Figures and 6 in which the pin 45 operating in the annular groove 46 of the pinion 4I maintains the pinion 41 in mesh with the inside gear 49. When, however, the shaft 22 is turned through approximately half a revolution to the position in which the feed board is unlocked from the press the member 293l)3l is likewise turned through approximately half a revolution with the result that the pin 33 is moved toward the left viewing Figure 5 by engagement therewith of the end of the slot 32 nearest the portion 30. Due to such movement the rod 3? is moved toward the left viewing Figure 5 and the bell crank lever 40 is turned in the clockwise direction about the axis of the pivot 4! against the action of the spring 58 to withdraw the pinion 47 toward the left viewing Figure 6 out of mesh with the inside gear 49. Thus when the feed board is locked to the press the spring 58 is free to move the pinion 41 into mesh with the inside gear 49 and maintain it in mesh therewith while when the feed board is unlocked from the press the pinion 41 is withdrawn from mesh with the inside gear 45. The slot 32 is elongated to prevent binding of the parts upon locking of the feed board to the press. As will presently be described, the pinion 4'I partakes of constant oscillatory movement and if the slot 32 were not elongated there would be danger of damage to the parts upon turning of the shaft 22 which would force the pinion 41 against the inside gear 49. Since the pinion 47 can only move into mesh with the inside gear 49 when the pin 5| enters the bore 52 it is important that the force urging the pinion into mesh with the inside gear be a resilient rather than a positive force. The resilient force is sup plied by the spring 58, the function of the member 29303I with the elongated slot 32 therein being to permit the spring 53 to move the pinion 41 toward the right viewing Figure 6 into mesh with the inside gear 49.

It is important that when the feed board is in its uptilted position as shown in chain lines in Figure 7 the pinion 41 be maintained out of engagement with the inside gear 49 even though the shaft 22 be turned to the position of Figure 5. To this end there is fastened to the feeder frame a stop member 59 which is stationarily disposed in position so that when the feed board i 2 is turned up to inoperative position the arm 39 of the bell crank lever 40 will engage the stop member 59, which member will by engagement with the arm 39 positively hold the pinion 47 out of mesh with the inside gear 49 regardless of the position to which the shaft 22 may be turned. In other Words, the stop member 59 renders inoperative the spring 58 to move the pinion 47 into mesh with the inside gear 49 when the feed board is in uptilted position. When the feed board is moved back to operative position the arm 39 moves away from the stop member 59, allowing the spring 58 to become operative to urge the bell crank lever 40 to turn in the counterclockwise direction viewing Figure 5.

The shaft 22 has a radial lug 22a to which is pivoted at 2222 a rod 220 passing through a slot 22d in a stud 22c pivotally mounted in a lug 22f integral with and projecting downwardly from the feed board I2. A compression coil spring 229/ bears between the connection of the rod 220 with the lug 22a and the stud 22c. Thus there is provided an overcenter holding device resiliently acting on the shaft 22 to hold it in each of its two positions as clearly shown in Figure 7.

Another stop member 60 is threaded into the feed board at iii and carriesan adjustable stop screw 62 maintained in adjusted position by a nut .53 adapted to engage the outer end of the arm 3%) of the bell crank lever 40 when the pinion 41 has been moved into mesh with the inside gear 4a to relieve the inside gear 49 of substantial axial thrust by the pinion M. In other words, the thrust is taken by non-rotating means instead of by rotation means so that no substantial wear is occasioned thereby.

By reason of the provision of the annular groove 56 in the pinion 41 the pin 45 rides in that groove at all times regardless of the angular position of the feed board 82 about the axis of the shaft II. In other words, the operating means for the pinion 4I remains continuously in engagement in all angular positions of the feed board about the axis of the shaft Ii.

Disposed about the vertical shaft I above the upper trunnionii is a hollow circular rack 64. The rack s4 is in the form of a sleeve mounted on the shaft "I for guided movement parallel to the axis of that shaft. At its lower end the rack 64 has a sleeve portion 65 having therein an outwardly facing annular groove 66. Surrounding the sleeve portion 65 is a driving member 61 through which pass bolts 68 which enter the annular groove 6%. The driving member 6'! has two spaced apart outwardly projecting lugs 69 to which is pivoted at lfl a link II having its upper end disposed between the lugs 69 connected with a crank motion driven from the press drive, the crank motion being conventional and hence not being shown in detail. Driving of the press operates the crank motion to cause the link TI to oscillate the circular rack 64 up and down on the vertical shaft i. The circular rack 64 is at all times in mesh with the pinion 47 so that during operation of the apparatus the circular rack is continuously moving up and down and the pinion 4? is continuously oscillating angularly about the axis of the shaft II. The pinion 41 may while so oscillating be moved along the axis of the shaft l I as above described. Thus the connection from the press drive to the feeder for oscillating the feeder carriage is maintained at all times, the means for moving the pinion 41 axially of the shaft II being the control means determining whether or not at any particular time the feeder carriage is oscillated. As above explained, the control means remains operable when the feed board is tilted since tilting of the feed board simply moves the pin 45 around the annular slot 4%.

When the feeder is swung out to inoperative position about the axis of the shaft I the pinion 41 remains in mesh with the circular rack 64, moving bodily about the axis of the shaft I at the same time. Consequently even swinging of the feeder out to inoperative position does not disengage the connection from the press drive for operating the feeder carriage.

Disposed about the circular rack 64 just above the driving member 61 is a collar I2 which is constrained to move up and down with the circular rack 64, but as will presently be described, turns relatively thereto when the feeder is swung out about the axis of the shaft I to inoperative position. A rod I3 is pivoted at I4 to a lever I5 and extends downwardly through an eye I6 in the collar I2 and thence through a guiding bore TI in the feeder frame. Collars I8 are fastened to the rod I3 immediately above and below the collar 12. Thus up and down movement of the circular rack 64. causes up and down movement 13 of the rod 13. When the feeder is swung out to inoperative position about the axis of the shaft I the rod 73 causes the collar I2 to turn about the circular rack 64.

The lever I5 has a hub portion I9 through which passes a shaft 80. The lever I5 is freely turnable upon the shaft 80. The shaft 88 is journaled in the feeder frame and has keyed thereto two worms 8| of opposite hand. Each of the worms BI meshes with a worm wheel 82. Each Worm wheel 82 is keyed to a longitudinal shaft 83, one of the shafts 83 being adjacent one side of the feeder and the other being adjacent the opposite side of the feeder. Thus turning of the shaft 88 turns the two shafts 83 but in opposite directions.

Keyed to each shaft 83 are two sprockets 84. An endless sprocket chain 85 is trained about and depends from each of the four sprockets 84. The pile support 86 has spaced apart downwardly projecting ribs 8! so that when it is set down on the floor the peel of a carrier truck may be projected beneath the body of the pile support to lift it and carry it about. The pile support 86 is fastened to each of the four chains 84 atthe inside reach thereof. The manner of fastening of the pile support to the chains does not constitute the present invention but may be conventional and hence is not shown in detail.

Thus when the shaft 80 is turned in one direction the pile support is raised and when the shaft 80 is turned in the opposite direction the pile support is lowered.

Keyed to the shaft 80 is a ratchet 89. The ratchet is arranged on the shaft in such relation to the worms BI that when the shaft 89 is turned in the clockwise direction viewing Figure 10 the pile support 86 is raised.

An integral projection 89 extends out radially from the hub I9 and has journaled in its outer end at 98 a short shaft 9I which at one end has fixed thereto a pawl 92 disposed directly above the ratchet 88 and at the other end has fixed thereto a follower member 93 comprising a curved neck portion 94 and an elongated operating portion 95. The operating portion 95 has a lateral projection 96 projecting from the operating portion 95 in a direction away from the pawl 92.

An integral projection 91 extends out radially from the hub I9 and has therein an elongated slot 98. The left-hand face of the projection 91 viewing Figure 10 is curved to act as a cam. A rod 99 is disposed generally horizontally and passes through the slot 98 in the projection 91. The rod 99 is adjacent one end guided in a guide I fixed to the feeder frame and is at its other end pivotally connected by a pin IOI to a pair of spaced apart generally downwardly projecting arms I02 fixed to a shaft I04 mounted for rotation in the feeder frame. A generally horizontally extending arm I95 is also fixed to the shaft IM. Pivoted to the arm I05 at I06 is a downwardly projecting feeler I 01 whose lower extremity is adapted to engage the top of a pile of sheets on the pile support 89. The feeler IIl'I is guided within a guide I88 carried by the feeder frame. Thus axial oscillation of the rod 99 causes generally vertical oscillation of the feeler I81.

Fixed to the rod 99 is a collar I09 against which bears a compression coil spring III), the opposite end of which bears against a washer I I I which lies against the cam face of the projection 91. serves to limit the extent to which the spring I III may expand. A tension coil spring II3 is fas- A pin H2 extends through the rod 99 and 14 tened at one end to a stud I I4 carried by the feeder frame and at the other end to a stud I83 threaded into the pin IUI and tends to raise the feeler I01 upwardly out of contact with the top of the pile of sheets on the pile support 86.

Pivoted to the feeder frame at I15 is a detent I I6 having an operating portion III normally disposed beneath the portion 98 of the member 93 as shown in Figure 11. The detent H6 is of generally inverted L-shap, extending upwardly and then laterally from the pivot II5. In the laterally or generally horizontally extending portion of'the detent H6 is threaded a screw I I8 maintained in adjusted position by a nut H9. The screw projects downwardly from the detent. A cam I28 is fixed to the rod 99 and is positioned thereon so that when the rod 99 moves toward the left viewing Figure 10 a predetermined distance it will engage the bottom of the screw H8 and then cam the detent I I6 to turn in the counterclockwise direction about the pivot I I5 viewing Figure 11 until the portion II'I moves out of the path of the portion 96 of the follower member 93 which permits the pawl 92 to drop into engagement with the ratchet 88. The rod 99 also has fixed thereto a stop member I2I which limits movement of the rod 99 toward the right viewing Figure 10 by engagement with the guide I00.

The operation of the pile governor will now be described. The lever I5 partakes of continuous angular oscillation during operation of the apparatus. Normally the portion I I I of the detent I I5 lies beneath the portion 96 of the follower member 93 so that as the lever 15 oscillates, the follower member 99, being itself held up by the portion Ill of the detent, in turn holds the pawl 92 out of operative engagement with the ratchet 85;. Viewing Figure 10, as the follower member 93 moves toward the right in clockwise angular movement about the axis of the shaft 89 the under surface of the portion 96 thereof rides atop the portion II? of the detent IIB which maintains the pawl 92 out of operative engagement with the ratchet 88. However, at the end of the angular oscillatory movement toward the right viewing Figure 10 of the follower member 93 the left-hand extremity of the portion 95 passes beyond the portion II! of the detent and at that time the pawl 92, having passed two teeth of the ratchet, is permitted to come into engagement with the ratchet beyond the second passed tooth, but such engagement is not operative engagement as the pawl does not have any effect on the ratchet. It is, however, important that at the end of the angular oscillatory movement toward the right viewing Figure 10 of the follower member 83 the portion 96 thereof pass beyond the portion ill of the detent H9 so that upon the return movement toward the left of the follower member 93 the portion 99 will always ride up on the portion III regardless of whether or not the portion III has been beneath and in operative engagement with the portion 98 during the previous angular oscillation of the follower member 93 toward the right.

Thus ordinarily the pawl 92 is held out of operative engagement with the ratchet 8B and simply partake of constant oscillation about the axis of the shaft 89 without performing any function.

The spring H9 urges the feeler It'l upwardly out of engagement with the top of the pile of sheets on the pile support 86. Upward movement of the feeler I81 is limited by engagement of the stop member I2I with the guide I99. When the lever 15 is at the extreme clockwise end of its angular oscillation about the axis of the shaft 89 viewing Figure 10 the projection 91 has moved toward the right from the position in which it is shown in Figure 10 so that pressure on the spring III) has been relieved sufficiently to permit the spring I I3 to raise the feeler I91, and the rod 99 is in its extreme right-hand position with the stop member I2I against the guide I99 and the right-hand end of spring H8 and the washer II I are stopped by the pin II2. On the succeeding counterclockwise oscillatory movement of the lever I5 the projection 9'1 compresse the spring I I0. Compression of the spring I ll! continues until the force exerted thereby against the rod 99 through the collar I99 thereon overcomes the action of the spring H3, whereupon the feeler I! is moved downwardly into engagement with the top of the pile. Any overtravel of the projection 91 after the feeler I69 has engaged the top of the pile is taken up by further compression of the spring I I9,

When the top of the pile is within the operative height range so that raising of the pile to maintain its top within that range is not immediately necessary engagement of the feeler with the top of the pile stops movement of the rod 99 toward the left viewing Figure 10 before the cam I29 fastened to the rod 99 comes into engagement with the bottom of the screw I I8. Thus nothing is done to remove the portion III of the detent IIB from beneath the portion 36 of the follower member 93 and the 'feeler I91 and the rod 99 merely oscillate without turning the shaft 89.

When enough sheets have been removed from the pile that raising of the pile to bring its top into the operative height range is indicated the feeler IIlI moves down far enough before engaging thetop of the pile that the cam I29 engages the bottom of the screw H8 and tilts the detent I I6 so that the detent turns in the counterclockwise direction about the pivot I95 viewing Figure 11. Such tilting of the detent H6 at first slightly raises the follower member 93 until the portion II! of the detent clears the edge of the portion 96 of the follower member whereupon the follower member drops down. Since the pawl 92 is rigidly connected with the follower member by means of the short shaft 9| so as to be in effect integral therewith the pawl 92 likewise drops down (i. e., turns in the clockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 9I viewing Figure 10) until it comes into operative engagement with the ratchet 88. This always happens when the lever I is at the extreme counterclockwise extremity of its angular oscillation about the axis of the shaft 89 viewing Figure since it is only at that time that the cam I28 can engage the bottom of the screw II8. As soon as the lever I5 commences the next clockwise oscillatory movement viewing Figure 10 the cam I29 immediately moves out of contact with the bottom of the screw I I8 permitting the detent I I6 to turn back in the clockwise direction about the pivot II5 viewing Figure 11 until the lower right-hand corner of the portion III viewing Figure 11 engages the side of the follower member 93 which it will be remembered has dropped down to permit the pawl 92 to operatively engage the ratchet 88. As clockwise movement of the lever I5 viewing Figure 10 continues the pawl 92 which is in operative engagement with the ratchet 88 turns the shaft 89 in the clockwise direction viewing Figure 10. The shaft 89 through the worms 8| and the worm wheels 82 turns the shafts 83 outwardly to raise the inner reaches of the chains 85 and hence move the pile support 86 upwardly through an increment of movement. As the lever I5 reaches the clockwise extremity of it angular oscillatory movement viewing Figure 10 the portion III of the detent H5, which has been riding with the detent in slightly tilted position along the side face of the follower member 93, passes beyond the end of the portion 96 of the follower member 93 so that upon the succeeding counterclockwise movement of the lever I5 the portion I I! again moves under the portion 98 and raises the follower member 93. Thus upon each counterclockwise movement of the lever 15 viewing Figure 10 the portion II! of the detent H6 is always beneath the portion 96 of the follower member 93 and holds up the follower member and the pawl 92. Turning of the detent H6 in the clockwise direction about the pivot H5 is limited by engagement of a pin I22 in the side of the detent with the head H23 of a screw I24 in the feeder frame serving as a stop member. The screw I24 is maintained in adjusted position by a nut I25.

A hand crank I26 has a hub I2I through which the shaft passes. The shaft 88 has a pin I28 extending therethrough and projecting both upwardly and downwardly therefrom and the hub I2I has opposed lateral recesses or pockets I29 therein adapted to receive the projecting ends of the pin I28 when the crank I26 is moved toward the left viewing Figure 11 or upwardly viewing Figure 9. The crank I26 is maintained on the shaft 89 but is allowed sufficient freedom of movement axially of the shaft to be moved into and out of engagement with the pin I28 by a stop pin I36. The crank I26 is used for manually raising or lowering the pile support. The pile support may be raised by the crank I26 at any time and may be lowered by the crank I26 at any time except when the pawl 92 is in operative engagement with the ratchet 88.

The feeder is equipped with the usual side registering or side guiding means operated by the usual transversely oscillatable rod I3I which in turn is oscillated by the usual three-armed lever I32. Projecting from the rod I 3! is a pin I33 received within a yoke I 34 in the end of one arm I35 of the lever I32. The lever I32 is pivoted to the feed board at I36. Oscillation of the lever I 32 about the pivot I36 oscillates the rod I 3| transversely of the feed board to side register the sheets in well known manner. Since the side registering means per se do not constitute the present invention such means are not shown in detail.

The lever I32 is oscillated by a link I 31. When the sheets are to be registered to one side of the feed board the link I3! is pivotally connected to the second arm I38 of the three-armed lever I32 while when the sheets are to be registered to the other side of the feed board the link I3! is pivotally connected to the third arm I39 of the threeiarmed lever I 32; this is standard feeder strucure.

However, improved means are provided for oscillating the link I31. That link is pivoted at I40 to an upwardly projecting arm I4I of a bell crank lever I42 pivoted to the feed board at I43. The lower arm I44 of the bell crank lever M2 carries a follower I45 which extends through an opening I 45a in the feed board I2 and operates in a cam groove I 46 in the outside face of the carriage oscillating pinion I5 or if there be two such pinions the one disposed at the gear side of the feeder. This provides an extremely simple spasms:

and e ffectiv'e means for operating the side regis tering or side guiding mechanism.

While-I have shown and described a presentpreferred embodiment-ofthe invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not 1 limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodiedwithinthe scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1; Material handling apparatus comprisingafeeler, an angularly'oscillatable operating mem-' her, a" connection from the operatingmember tothe feeler oscillating the feeler between a downward 'position inengagement with the to of a pileof material Whose height changes during" operation of the apparatus and an upward position above and out of engagement with the top I of-thepilasaid connection including a slotted means for changingtheelevationoi'the pile to compensate for its change inheight andmaintain its-top atapproximately a fined elevation, 21,0011- nection from the operating memberto thepile moving means, means normally maintaining the second mentioned connection inoperative, the

rod having thereon acam; andmeans operated by t'he cam in apredetermined range of amplitude ofoscillation of therod displacing the last mentioned'means whereby to render operative'the secondmentienedconnection to move the pile;

21 Material handling apparatus comprising a feelengan angularly oscillatable operating memher; a connection from the operating memberto the feeler oscillatingthe feeler between a down- Ward position in engagement with the top of a pileof material whose height changes during operation 'of the apparatusand an upward position above and out of engagement with the top ofthepile, said" connection including a movable support for the feeler, a projection on the operating'memher and'ancscillatabl'e rod operated by said projection upon angular oscillation oiythe operating member and connected with the ieeler support; spring means acting on the feeler support urging thefleeler support to a position in which the feeler is in its upwardposition and spring-means interposed betweena portion'of the rodan'd the projection through which the projection moves the and upon angular movement of the operating member in one direction to temporarilyovercomethe action of the first mentioned spring means and move the feeler. support to a position in which the feeler is-in its downward position; the amplitude of oscillation oftherod varying with the elevation of the top Ofthepile, pile moving means for changing the elevationof the pileto compensate forits-changeinheight and maintain its top at approximately a 'ii'xed elevation; a connection from operating member to-th'e-pile moving means and means operatedhy the rod in a predetermined range cfanipiitude of oscillation of the rod rendering second mentioned connection operative to more the pile;

3. Material handling apparatus comprising a feelenyan oscillatabler operating member, a con- DBCtiUIIIfIDm theoperating: member to the feeler oscillating the-:feeler; between a downward position; in, engagementwiththetop l of a pile of materialivvhose heightchanges during operation of the, apparatusand an upward rposition above: and

out-of engagementfwith the top of the pile, said connection-includinga movable support for the feeler and a-n actuating mem'ber operated by the operating member upon oscillation of the opera.

'1 ating memberand connected-with the feeler supportispringameans-acting directly onthe feeler support urging-the feeler' support to a position.

in which the ie'elen isiin its upward position and spring means-[interposed between a portion of w actuating member and i the operating mem ber' through which-the operating member moves,

the 'ae'tuating :mcinher upon movement of the opera ting member in one direction to temporarilyov'ercomethe aotion ofth'efii'st mention ed spring.

means and move the ieeler support to a position:

in Which-the lfeeler is in its downward position,

the amplitude: of 'oseillation or the actuating member 'varying' withthe-elevation :01 the top 10f v the pile pile-zmovingimeans:for changing theele vation o'i the: pile ito- :ceinpensataior its change in height and maintain-sits top at approximately a fixed" elevation, a connection-- from f the operating member to the pil'e moving means and means.

operated by the actuating'member in a predetermined ran'ge of amplitude-of: oscillation of the actuating member; rendering the second mentioned connection operative to move the pile.

4 l 'iiateriahhandling apparatus comprising a:

ieeler, a generally vertically oriented? carrier for.

the -i'eeler; a guidefor' thecarrier through which:

the carrier is adapted to "move during upward; and"downward movementssofirthe 'feeler, an. 0scillatable operating member; aaconnection from the operatingmember to' the feeler carrier OSGill l-ating the-same betWeen-a-dovvnward positionin which thefeeler is-iii engagement the top of pile-oi material whose heightuchanges dur ingoperation of the: apparatus and an upward positi-cn in vrhich theifeeler is above and outaof? engagement withqthetopof the pile; said: conating member in; one direction; to temporarily;

overcome thel a'ction rofthe; first mentioned spring means: "and move 'therfeel'er carrier to -itswfirst mentioned position; 'theaamplitude of oscillation oftheactuating member varying: with the 816? vationsof the top of the ,pile, pile ymoving means for changing.- the elevation. of: the pile tocom pensate fora-its change in; height: and maintain.

itstop at. approximatelyra fixed elevation; 345C011?" neetion from the operating; member to the pilemoving means and means: operated by the actuatingwmember in" aupredetermined:range oi: am,- plitude of" OSGiHGJtiOIIwOfE, the actuating member: renderings-the; second: mentioned connection, op erative to move-the pile;

53 Materiahhandling.apparatus:comprisingytwo material handling portions, a, pivot, pivotally; connesting said, portions together; an, operating member: mounted on. the :pivothfor movement axially of the pivot, oneofthematerial handling portions having a support for-a pile of material, Whose height changes, during operation of the, apparatus, pile moving means for changing the elevation of! thep-ile to, compensatefor iter-change in. heightand. maintain its top. at approximately, afixed elevation. and a driving connectionbew- Iii tween the operating member and the pile moving means effective upon movement of the operating member axially of the pivot to operate the pile moving means.

i 6. In a press, a main frame, a printing or like couple carried by the main frame, a feeder, a pivot pivotally connecting the feeder to the main frame of the press, an operating member mounted on the pivot for movement axially of the pivot,

the feeder having a support for a pile of sheets, means for removing sheets from the pile to the couple and thereby decreasing the height of the pile of sheets, means for elevating the pile support with the pile thereon to compensate for loss of height of the pile due to removal of sheets and maintain the top of the pile at approximately a fixed elevation and a driving connection between the operating member and the pile support elevating means effective upon movement of the operating member axially of the pivot to operate the pile support elevating means.

7. In a press, a main frame, a printing or like couple carried by the main frame, a feeder, a pivot pivotally connecting the feeder to the main frame of the press so that the feeder may be swung about the axis of the pivot between operative and inoperative positions, an operating member slidable axially of the pivot, the feeder having a support for a pile of sheets, means for removing sheets from the pile to the couple and thereby decreasing the height of the pile of sheets, means for elevating the pile support with the pile thereon to compensate for loss in height of the pile due to removal of sheets and maintain the top of the pile at approximately a fixed elevation and a driving connection between the operating member and the pile support elevating means effective upon sliding of the operating member axially of the pivot to operate the pile support elevating means, the operating member and the driving connection turning with the feeder about the axis of the pivot when the feeder is swung between operative and inoperative positions.

8. In a press, a main frame, a printing or like couple carried by the main frame, a feeder, a pivot pivotally connecting the feeder to the main frame of the press so that the feeder may be swung about the axis of the pivot between operative and inoperative positions, an operating member movable axially of the pivot, the feeder having a support for a pile of sheets, means for moving sheets from the pile to the couple and thereby decreasing the height of the pile of sheets, means for elevating the pile support with the pile thereon to compensate for loss in height of the pile due to removal of sheets and maintain the top of the pile at approximately a fixed elevation and a driving connection between the operating member and the pile support elevating means effective upon movement of the operating member axially of the pivot to operate the pile support elevating means, the driving connection including a rod extending generally upwardly from the operating member to the pile support elevating means, the feeder having a guide for the rod to maintain it in proper orientation relatively to the pile support elevating means in all positions of the feeder relatively to the press, the rod turning the operating member about the axis of the pivot when the feeder is swung between operative and inoperative positions.

9. Material handling apparatus comprising two material handling portions, a pivot pivotally connecting said portions together, an operating device mounted on the pivot for movement axially of the pivot, one of the material handling portions having a support for a pile of material whose height changes during operation of the apparatus, pile support moving means for changing the elevation of the pile to compensate for its change in height and maintain its top at approximately a fixed elevation and oscillatable material handling mean handling the material sequentially relatively to its disposal in the pile, a driving connection between the operating device and the pile support moving means effective upon movement of the operating device axially of the pivot to operate the pile support moving means and a driving connection between the operating device and the oscillatable material handling means effective upon movement of the operating device axially of the pivot to oscillate the oscillatable material handling means.

10. Material handling apparatus comprising a frame, a pivot for the frame about the axis of which the frame is swingable, an operating device mounted on the pivot for movement axially of the pivot, a support for a pile of material whose height changes during operation of the apparatus mounted on the frame, pile support moving means for changing the elevation of the pile to compensate for its change in height and maintain its top at approximately a fixed elevation also mounted on the frame, oscillatable material handling means handling the material sequentially relatively to its disposal in the pile also mounted on the frame, a driving connection between the operating device and the pile support moving means effective upon movement of the operating device axially of the pivot to operate the pile support moving means and a driving connection between the operating device and the oscillatable material handling means effective upon movement of the -.operating device axially of the pivot to oscillate the osoillatable material handling means.

11. Material handling apparatu comprising a frame, a pivot for the frame about the axis of which the frame is swingable, an operating device mounted on the pivot for movement axially of the pivot, the operating device having a portion non-turnable about the axis of the pivot when the frame is swung thereabout and a portion turnable about the axis of the pivot when the frameis swung thereabout, a sup-port for a pile of material whose height changes during operation of the apparatus mounted on the frame, pile support moving means for changing the elevation of the pile to compensate for its change in height and maintain its top at approximately a fixed elevation also mounted on the frame, oscillatable material handling means handling the material sequentially relatively to its disposal in the pile also mounted on the frame, a driving connection between the second mentioned portion of the operating device and the pile support moving means effective upon movement of the operating device axially of the pivot to operate the pile support moving means and a driving connection between the first mentioned portion of the operating device and the oscillatable material handling means effeetive upon movement of the operating device axially of the pivot to oscillate the oscillatable' material handling means.

12. Material handling apparatus comprising a frame, a pivot for the frame about the axis of which the frame is swingable, a sleeve disposed about the pivot and movable axially of the pivot but non-turnable about the axis of the pivot when the frame is swung thereabout, an operating member movable axially of the pivot with the sleeve, a support for a pile of material whose height changes during operation of the apparatus mounted on the frame, pile support moving means for changing the elevation of the pile to compensate for its change in height and maintain its top at approximately a fixed elevation also mounted on the frame, oscillatable material handling means handling the material sequentially relatively to its disposal in the pile also mounted on the frame, a driving connection between the operating member and the pile support moving means effective upon movement of the operating member axially of the pivot to operate the pile support moving means and a driving connection between the sleeve and the oscillatable material handling means efiective upon movement of the sleeve axially of the pivot to oscillate the oscillatable material handling means, the first mentioned driving connection turning the operating member about the axis of the pivot when the frame is swung thereabout.

13. Article handling apparatus comprising a feeler, oscillatable operating means, a connection from the operating means to the feeler oscillating the feeler between a position in engagement with the end of a series of articles to be fed seriatim, the location of which end of the series of articles changes during operation of the apparatus, and a position out of engagement with said end of the series of articles, the amplitude of oscillation of the connection varying with the location of said end of the series of articles, means for moving the series of articles to compensate for the change in location of said end thereof and maintain said end of the series of articles in generally fixed location within predetermined limits, said means including a ratchet, a connection from the operating means to the means for moving the series of articles, the second mentioned connection including an oscillatable pivoted pawl having an operating portion adapted to engage the ratchet and a follower portion, the operating portion and the follower portion of the pawl extending generally in the same direction from the pivot, the operating portion of the pawl being adapted to operatively engage the ratchet to turn the ratchet and hence move the series of articles upon oscillation of the operating means, a detent normally engaging the surface of the follower portion of the pawl nearer the ratchet axis during oscillation of the operating means maintaining the pawl in an angular position about its pivot in which its operating portion is out of operative engagement with the ratchet and means operated by the first mentioned connection in a predetermined range of amplitude moving the detent out of the path of the follower portion of the pawl permitting the pawl to turn about its pivot so that its operating portion operatively engages and operates the ratchet.

14. Article handling apparatus comprising a feeler, oscillatable operating means, a connection from the operating means to the feeler oscillating the feeler between a position in engagement with the end of a series of articles to be fed seriatirn, the location of which end of the series ofarticles changes during operation of the apparatus, and a position out of engagement with said end of the series of articles, the amplitude of oscillation of the connection varying with the location of said end of the series of articles, means for moving the series of articles to compensate for the change in location of said end thereof and maintain said end of the series of articles in generally fixed location within predetermined limits, said means including a ratchet, a connection from the operating means to the means for moving the series of articles, the second mentioned connection including an oscillatable pawl pivoted about a generally horizontal axis having an operating portion adapted to engage the ratchet and a follower portion, the operating portion and the follower portion of the pawl extending generally in the same direction from the pivot, the operating portion of the pawl being adapted to be moved by gravity to operatively engage the ratchet to turn the ratchet and hence move the series of articles upon oscillation of the operating means, a detent normally engaging the under surface of the follower portion of the pawl during oscillation of the operating means maintaining the pawl raised with its operating portion out of operative engagement with the ratchet and means operated by the first mentioned connection in a predetermined range of amplitude moving the detent out of the path of the follower portion of the pawl permitting the pawl to move by gravity into operative position wherein its operating portion operatively engages and operates the ratchet.

15. Material handling apparatus comprising a feeler, an oscillatable operating member, a connection from the operating member to the feeler oscillating the feelerwbetween a downward position in engagement with the top of a pile of material whose height changes during operation of the apparatus and an upward position above and out of engagement with the top of the pile, the amplitude of oscillation of the connection varying with the elevation of the top of the pile, pile moving means including a ratchet for changing the elevation of the pile to compensate for its change in height and maintain its top at approximately a fixed elevation, a connection from the operating member to the pile moving means, the second mentioned connection including a pawl pivoted to the operating member, the pawl having an operating portion and a follower portion extending generally in the same direction from the pivot, the operating portion of the pawl being adapted to operatively engage the ratchet to turn the ratchet and hence change the elevation of the pile upon oscillation of the operating member, a detent normally engaging the surface of the follower portion of the pawl nearer the ratchet axis during oscillation of the operating member maintaining the pawl in an angular position about its pivotal connection with the operating member in which its operating portion is out of operative engagement with the ratchet and means operated by the first mentioned connection in a predetermined range of amplitude moving the detent out of the path of the follower portion of the pawl permitting the pawl to turn about its pivotal connection with the operating member so that its operating portion operatively engages and operates the ratchet.

ANDREW NEUHART.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,762,661 Low June 10, 1930 1,770,483 Federwitz et a1. July 15, 1930 1,784,335 Christophel Dec. 9, 1930 1,963,694 Davidson June 19, 1934 1,969,946 Root Aug. 14, 1934 2,081,958 Root June 1. 1937 

